Circular-knitting machine for making hosiery and the like.



P. WILGOMB. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR MAKiNG HOSIERY AND THE LIKE.

n APPLICATICN PILED DEC. 13, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 11, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

F. WILGOMB. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR MAKING HOSIERY AND THE LIKE. APPLIOATION FILED DEC.13, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 11, 1912.

1,049,020, Patented De.31,1912.

v r 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L I I i l 1 k l fi Z x 46 5 7 w 45 40 Q J T 7/ 7 63;", i; 9 0 ifi 70 F; WILOOMB.

GIEGULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR MAKINGHOSIERY AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 11,1912? 1,04=9,020@

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 @Ml/M F. WILGOMB.

. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE FOR MAKING-HOSIERY AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATlON FILED DEO.13, 190s. RENEW-ED JUNE 11, 1912. I

1,04195020, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

4: SHEETS-SHEET 4.

toe portions of the stocking are being I ening and shortening the velocity Whether on the Widest partor narrowest part of the heel anal toe.

ina tier (lescrihecl and CIRGULAFIKEITTING TEACHINE FER Iv'ZiZIING Hil-SI' Specification of 1305, Serial No, 347,

To (2'1 Z whom it may; concern Be it known that l, FRANK l a' lL-COMB, eiti zen of the l nitetl States, residing at hloi ristown Pennsylvania, have invented eertein new and useful ling rovements in Circular-Knitting li'laehines for Lin? Hosiery and the like, of which the following is a speciiieation.

My invention relates to circular knitting; machines knoivn as hosiery machines, in which reciprocating movement the needle (211118 is necessary when the heel and fornieol.

Une of the objects of my invention i provide means for giving the moving parts a reciprocating motion with a uniform locity vof the earns in respect to-the needles. Heretofore machines of this eharaet ployecl crank movements, hut tl jeotionnlole because they neeessar a more rapid movement during the role of the stroke than at the encls of the stroke By my invention, the velocity of the (nuns over the needles uniform at all parts of the stroke;

Another object of my invention to vide means whereby the length of the meeting stroke is automatically sho step by step during the narrowing ope of the heel and toe, and whereby sairl stroke is automatically lengthened step h st during the. Widening operation in inniting of saicl parts. fine advantage of lengthstroke is to mate rielly r'ednee the time necessary to knit the. heel and toe, and i1 t'nrther reduction of time results from the "feet that the knitting mm is trz veling; over the needles with a uniform Other oloieets of my invention will. appear hereinafter.

The" invention consists in the features), Combination nn jl arrangementof parts here- 7 particularly pointed out in the claims] 5 In the accompanying drzzvvingsn l ignre is a vertical sectional view from fifiilb rear of the nmehine, parts being shown in elevation for convenience of l illls il'fllliall." g2 is a front view of l ne machine iv'" {m sts in section. s'n rear vieiglehcl; i

v Allln, CQIRORATIDJAL 35'. AN THE LIKE.

eters Eatent.

Renewed June 11. 1912.

Pntent-eil Ben. 31, 5X6 Serial I'll) 703,399.

i igl l; a plain view of lhe operating mechii 'srn below the knitting head, parts being hoivn in seetion zunl parts being broken away.

In these lrzuvings 1 indicates the knitting heml which comprises the needles 2: the movable cam ring therefor; the Web holrlers l with their (rein (m'rvinigring 5 and the sinkers 6 "with their cnni carrying ring 7.

In thepresent machine I have shown the several H1 carriers being rotatnhly n'nimnled and eoiipernting' Will) a mm-rotnri cylinder and needles out it will be understood that l ClO not limit. myself in this respect es the invention may be applied to the tvpe of machine in whieh the needle e vlin- (lei: rotates and the earn rings are stationery ln the present embodiment 01" my invent on the earn ere rotaterl by gears 8, 9 arm ll) fixeil on a vertical shaft 11, suitably "left in the frmne 12. This shaft is no ecl to have at times continuous rotary met on tor operating knitting derives for tinnone circular knitting in forming the and at times to be revolnhly reciprovchen the knitting devices are to he opin making the heel and toe portions. nnin (lrive shaft of the inaehine is inclibeing; driven by the pulleys 14-. drive carries on its inner end l6 and eeiipemting with this the vertical shaft are two 5 gears 13' mnl lfhhoth meshone loentecl at the upper the lower part of the said bevel gears 17 and i8 rtienl sha it 11 and are (leto connected therewith for rotan 1" the other elnteheal thereto by l {incl conicd members to eni nor Sill eees on the bevel each -lnteh is formed with 'erl portion 21 to receive one of the anr lo i necl in eitl er one (i neh as the case may he, extending R Block 2 h which is fixed to a reversing rod edepiecito slicle vert-ieally in hearings on a he 2'? suitably seenrerl to the l' ese ntoh members have a -t-l the vertical shaft- 1i,

center hioe 9,8 fixecl to the f fnemliei "with the she'll inning: pins or toils 2? tixegl there into openings in the clutches so that said clutches may have sliding movement along the shaft, but when either is in engagement with its gear the motion of said gear will be transmitted through the clutch and the splined connection described, to the vertical shaft.

The clutches are thrown in andout by the vertical movements of the block 24 at-' with a companion rod arranged on the side and parallel with the reverser.

other rod and adapted also to reciprocate vertically through hearings in the said box. The connection between the two rods 34, 35 is made by a lever 36 pivoted centrally to the" box or' frame at 37 and having its ends pivotally connected to the said rods; at one end through the arm 32, and at its other end through the block 38 fixed to the rod 35. These rods are operated vertically through link connections 39, 39 which are slotted at 41 to receive pins 42 extending from the said rods. The slotted links are respectively connected with levers 43, 44

' which are supported on a rod or shaft 45 suitably supported in the frame of the ma chine at51. This shaft or rod also has loosely supported thereon levers 46, 46, connected respectively as will hereinafter be de scribed with the levers 43, 44. The levers 46 and 46 are provided with rollers 47 adapted to be acted on by cams 48, 49 fixed on a cam shaft 50, having suitable bearings in the frame at 51. This shaft is driven through a bevel gear 52 fixed thereon and a bevel gear 53 fixed to the lower end. of the vertical shaft" 11. The cams 48, 49 are set 50 so as to impart alternately movements to the levers 46, 46 and these levers, through connections to be hereinafter described, operate alternately the levers 43, 44, and by this means first one lever. and then the other pulls downwardly the rod connected thereto so that a reciprocating motion is imparted to the'rods 34,

35, and this through the studs or pins 30, 31

will impart a reciprocating vertical movement to the reverser rod 25 so as to shift the clutches 19, 20 into and out of connection with their respective clutch gears, and thus a rotary reciprocating movement will be imparted to the vertical shaft, and thus to the gearing 8, 9 and 10 will reciprocate the rotary parts of the knitting head to knit the heel or toe of the stocking. It will be observed that this rotary movem'ent imparted from the vertical shaft 11 to the movable detent tooth, for instance,

parts of the knitting head through the gearing 8, 9 and 10 will be uniform in velocity at practically all parts of the stroke and thus'the cams will. be carried over or past the knitting devices, such for instance as the needles, web holders and sinkers with a uniform velocity instead of with a varying speed, as is the case where crank connections are employed.

In order to control and insure the proper engagement of the friction clutch cones with their respective gears I employ a spring detent 57 engaging the tooth 54 on the block 24 which carries the shifting forks. This detent is supported in a barrel or boss 55 which contains the spring 56 for forcing the detentagainst the tooth 54. The detent has a stem or tail portion 58 which is guided through the boss or barrel 55, and this barrel is carried by arms 59 and 60, the former of which engages loosely the shifting rod 34 and the latter of which is fixed by a screw or pin 61 to the shifting rod 35 so as to move up and down therewith. The action of this detent is to hold the clutch member in engagement with its clutch gear and to act as a pressure device for throwing the clutch forks in either one direct-ion or the other when the said clutch forks have been moved to such an extent as to cause the point of the tooth 54 to ride over the point of the with the parts in position shown at Fig. l the detent is hold ing the upper clutch cone in engagement with the gear. Now if the reverser rod is moved downwardly the detent will. simultaneously be moved upwardly and its point will get above the point of the tooth 54, and thus the pressure of the spring acting through the inclinedsurfaces of the teeth, now in contact, will throw the clutch fork so as to complete its movement downwardly and press the clutch cone 20 hard against the lower clutch gear. performs the function both of a detent for maintaining the clutch cones in a position to which they have been moved and also as a means for completing the action of said cones when started in either direction.

I will now describe the means whereby the rotary reciprocating stroke of the machine is varied to meet the conditions of narrowing or widening the heel or toe. For this purpose the levers 46, 46 together with their rollers are adjustable in position in relation to the cams 48, 49 so as to be acted upon to a greater or lesser degree by the said cams. For this purpose the levers are connected with adjustable blocks 62, 63, these, blocks bein adapted to reciprocate upon waysor trac rs 64 fixed to the base of the machine. The'blocks have screw threaded openings through which pass the screw shafts 65, 66. Plain extensions of these screw shafts also pass through blocks 67 and This detent therefore newe t} shafts reciprocate longitudinally the blocks 67 :will also reciprocate. -.These blocks slide onthe said .way 'or tracks'64-and are connected by links or pitmen 68 with the arms 48", 44" of the levers 48,- 44. The screw shafts at theirforward ends are formed with fiar teeth providingelongated gears 70. ese gears are supported in bearings 71, and there is a gear wheel 72 'ournaled in the base frame or bracket 78 w ich gear meshes with the elongated gears. The gear 72 also meshes with a rack 74 sliding in a guide-way 75 of the base plate, and this rack ar is connected by an arm 76 with a slidebar 77 movable in a guide-way 78, in said base plate or frame, said slide-bar extending to one side of the machine in convenient position to have power applied thereto for operatin it automatically.

It wil be seen from the above that the cams 48, 49 impart movement to the levers 46, 40', and through these levers and the 26 links 62', 63', Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the blocks 62,

68 are reci rocated and these being) connected by t e screw shafts with the locks 67, move the same forward and backward and thus through the links 68 impart move- 80 ment to the shifting rods 34, alternately through the levers 48, 44.

Now by operating the slide 77 the rack 74 will, tirough the gear 72 and the elongated gears 70 turn the screw shafts so as 85 to vary the re ative positions of the blocks 08 and 67, and therefore of the lovers 46 and 48 and 46' and 44, and therefore changes the timing of the operation of the clutch with respect to the motions of the cam shaft so as to give the desired length of stroke to the rotary parts of the knitting head. This adjustment takes place gradually in either direction so that the length of stroke is gradually lengthened or shortened in accordance with the direction in which the controlling slide 77 is moved. In other words, b operating the controlling slide the lcngti of time which either clutch is maintained in operative or driving position 50 is lengthened or shortened to thus vary the lcn th of the knitting stroke.

1% will be understood that the slide 77 may be operated manually by the attendant when the heel or too is being formed.

It will be also observed that this lengthening and shortening of the stroke does not interfere with the uniform velocity of the cams in their travel over the knitting devices.

The cams 48, 49 are pivotally supported in their carrier blocks 48* 49* and are held in operative osition by springs 76", this construction eing necessary in order to allow each cam to yield on its idle stroke at when it strikes the roller of the lever 46 or 4ti',-"as th s nasty-56, t a-sea tobe operated onthis'stroke. a

-- It will be understood thatthe machine is adapted to perform continuous circular knitting in makin the leg or foot of the stocking and to be c anged in its action from this continuous knitting to the rotary reciprocatin action when forming the heel and toe. en performing continuous circular knitting i will be understood that the shifting mechanism for the clutches is not in action and that the movement from the drive shaft 18 is imparted to the bevel gear 16 and one of the clutch are continuously to the vertical shaft 1 At this time the cams 48, 49 are shifted on their shaft 50 so as to be out of line with the rollers on the lovers 46, 46', this osition being represented in Fig. 3. For his purpose the blocks or collars 48 49* carryin r the cams are adapted to slide on the sni shaft and are therefore provided each with an annular groove 77" adapted to receive the fork 78. Each of these forks extends down and is divided into two arms 7 8 at its lower end Fig. 1, and through these ends the rods 79, 81 extend being slidably mounted in bearings 80 on the frame. One of the forks is secured to one of these rods and the other fork is secured to the other rod, the fastening means may consist of the setscrew 78". The rods are connected so as to move in opposite directions b a lever 82, ivoted on he frame at 88 an havin its orked ends engaging pins 84, 85 exten ing down from bosses or collars 86 fixed to the said rods by the set screws 87. By moving the shift rods by hand the operator may shift the cams longitudinally of their shaft 50 either into or out of line with the rollers on the levers 46, 46' and in this way the mechanism for imparting the rotary reciprocating motion to the knitting machine ma be thrown into or out of operation at wil The blocks or collars carryin the cams have a splined connection Will the shaft consistin in the present instance of a pin 88 on eac collar extending into openings in the hub of the bevel gear 52.

11 Figs. 2 and 3 the cams are adjusted to a position out of line with the rollers 47' whereas in Fig. 4 they are adjusted into line with said rollers to operate the same and the mechanism connected therewith.

From the above it 'will be seen that 1 provide positively operating connections between the driving mechanism and the parts to be driven and positively operated and connected mechanism for varying the action of the driving connections so that the timin of the parts of the knitting machine wi 1 not be interfered with.

It will also be understood that the devices for lengthening and shortening the stroke of the rotary movable parts of the knitting means cooperating'with said driving m}i;

head can beused with any of the Well known constructions for making the needles operative and inoperative to increase or decrease the length of the needle row, or thepicking of the needles to makethem operative or inoperative maybe done if desired by hand.

It will be understood that where,in the appended claims, I refer to a rotary knit-' ting member I mean the cam ringsin the form of machine used herein to illustrate -my invention, or other rotary parts which perform or aid in performing the knitting, such as the needle cylinder in the other type of rotary machine. 1

' I claim 1. In combination ina circular knitting machine, arotary knitting member, driving means including operating means for imparting a rotaryreciprocatory 'Inovement to the said member uniform as to ve-- v locityi-and means; for varying the length ofstroke. Y

' 2. In a circular knitting machine, a' rotary knitting member, driving means therefor for giving said rotary knitting member' a rotary. reciprocating movement, y and anism for varying the length of thereeip and the means for operating said rods alternately in opposite directions, substantially as described. 7

' 7. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, reverss ing drlving means therefor including.

. clutch members, a toothed block for shifting the clutch, a rod for shifting said block an a spring detent engaging the toothed block, said detent having shifting movementina direction the reverse of that of the toothed block, rods 34, 35, for operating the rod of the shifting block, said rods 34, being connected to 'move 1n opposite directions/1;.

substantially'as described. 8. In combination in a circularknitting machine, --a rotary knitting member, afdriv ing mechanism-therefor, comprising the reversing clutch and shaft to which rotary r- V ciprocatory movement is imparted by said clutch, and means for reversing the clutch dIIVGII fi'Qm the reciprocatory shaft, said means including a shaft geared to the reciprocato y shaft and connections therefrom to: the" clutch, and a power transmitting 6 member" joined to said connections for vary- .ingtheir operation and the period of opera- 'fJtienf the clutch, substantially-as described.

..9.; In combination, in a circular knitting rocat'ory'strokes of said member, substan,

- tially as described.

3. In combination, in .a circular machine, a rotary knitting member, i reversing drive mechanism therefor including clutch means, and the shifting andyielding' detent for'holdin'g the clutch in t ing in a direction opposite to'that of the clutch, substantially is/described:

4. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, reversing drivemechanism therefor fincfiiding clutch' means, and the detent-fqr' holding' the clutch in the position to which it is shifted,

said detent also acting to impel the clutch in the direction in whichitis started, and means for positively operating the said de- .tent in a direction opposite-to the movement of the clutch, substantially'as described.

5. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, reversing driving means therefor, including clutch members, a toothed, block for shifting the clutch, means for shifting said block, and a sprin detent engagin the toothed block, said eten't having shi ing movement 1n a direction the reverse 'of'that of the toothedblock, substantiallyas described.

6. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, reversing means therefor comprising a clutch, and g means operatingihecluteh comprising the shifting rod 26, the shifting rods 34, 35,'

having means for operating the rod 26, the

.- pivoted lever connecting said rods 34,,35,

egposi tion to which it is shifted, said detent shiftmachine, a rotary knitting member, a shaft 5 r with connections thereto for driving the :s sfarna'shifting elutch means for imparting} i rec'iprocatoi y rotation to said shaft, a shaft,

tary reciprocation is imparted to the knit t' gmember, reversin means including cams, a. connection lead ng from each cam; to the revers1ngmember, and means by which said-cams are rendered operative and 1:13

inoperative each in relation'to lte fown con-" nections, substantially as describedfif 11. In combination, -in a knittin {ma- 'chine, a rotary knittmg'member, driving means for saidknittingmember including reversing devices'to give"a1 3 32. 1,etory movement and adjustable means for rode, ing different length of the p'erioTs" etwe the reversing actions to Iary the lengths'ofi the edema-substantially; as described. 1215 12. In combination, 1n fa; knitting machine, a. rotary, lmitting "memhe'rydriying' means including the clutches with means for throwing them' into action alternatelyflto' produce reciprocatory motion and adjusta ble means for producing different lengths of period between the clutch actions to vary the lengths of the strokes, substantially as described.

13. In combination in a knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, driving means including reversing devices to give.

a reciprocatory motion to said member, cams for operating said reversing devices and connections between said cams and the reversing devices, said connections being adjustable toward and from the cams to vary the action thereon and thus change the lengths of the reciprocating strokes of the knitting member, substantially as described.

14. In combination, in a knitting ma chine, a rotary knitting member, driving means including reversmg devices to give a reciprocatory motion to said member .l and connections between said cams and the,

cams for operating said. reversing devices reversing devices, said connections being adjustable toward and from the cams to vary the action thereonand thus change. the lengths of the reciprocating strokes of the knitting ;member, said adjustable connections includ- ,ing the screw shafts and the means for screw shafts, means for-turning. them and" connections adjusted thereby for operating the reversing device, substantially as described. J Y

16. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, driving means including a reversing device to produce reciprocatorymotion of said imitting member, and means for operating the reversing device including connections between the same and the reversing device including screw shafts, and means for turning them to vary the action of the cams on said connect-ions, substantially as described.

17. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, driving means therefor including a reversing device, operating cams for said device, and connections between said cams and said de vice including the levers, the longitudinally movable screw shafts, the threaded blocks thereon, the links connecting the blocks and levers, theblocks movable longitudinally with the shafts and the links and levers between the same and the reversing mechanism with means for turning the screw shafts to .adjust the connections, substantially'as described.

18. In combination, in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, driving means therefor including a reversing device and cams 'reversely set, with connections for operating the reversing device, said cams being yieldingly mounted, substantially as.

described.

19. In combination in a circular knitting machine, a rotary knitting member, driving means including an automatically operating 'reverser for reversing the direction of stroke of said rotary knitting member, a power transmitting member, and timing means operated thereby for varyhig t1he periods between the operations of the everser to thereby vary' the lengths of -stroke of-,:the knitting'member, substantially .as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflii my signa ture in presence-of two witnesses.

' FRANK WILC'OMB. Witnesses:

LEILA Jen ns, KATHERINE H. Fox. 

